Park Playhouse 2014: ‘Oliver!’ and ‘Hands on a Hardbody’

A scene from “Hands on a Hardbody,” at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre in New York, Feb. 22, 2013. The musical was nominated for the 67th annual Tony Awards for best score, best featured actor, Keith Carradine, and best featured actress, Keala Settle. (Sara Krulwich/The New York Times)

A beloved Dickensian chestnut and the northeast regional premiere of a recent Broadway hit — about contestants vying for a hard-body pick-up truck — will take the stage at Washington Park in this summer’s main Park Playhouse productions.

“Hands on a Hardbody,” which opened last year on Broadway, will run July 1-26. Based on the 1997 documentary film of the same name, it features music by Trey Anastasio (of Phish) and Amanda Green, lyrics by Green and a book by Doug Wright. Michael LoPorto is set to direct; Geoffrey Doig-Marx will choreograph. Among the cast are three from last year’s “Spamalot”: Steven Earl-Edwards, Molly Rose McGrath and Steven Raymond.

Lionel Bart’s “Oliver!” is scheduled for Aug. 2-16. Telling the tale of Charles Dickens’ plucky orphan, it opened on London’s West End in 1960, went on to Broadway in 1962 and was adapted into Carol Reed’s 1968 film. Tim Nelson, who helmed last year’s “Shrek: The Musical,” is slated to direct. The cast will include theater students and professional actors.

Both musicals won Tonys for best original score.

Reserved tickets for both shows will go on sale on May 1. Information about auditions will be available this month at www.parkplayhouse.com.